Why Do You Read?

[Last Bullet]

I had an argument of sorts with my English teacher yesterday about literature that was "of merit." The obvious examples (from a school's point of view) is something like Shakespeare's various works, and novels such as Catcher in the Rye, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Heart of Darkness, Grapes of Wrath, blah blah blah, all that junk we've all had to (or will have to) read at some point.

Maybe it's just me, but "Catcher in the Rye" lost its appeal after a bit. I admit I liked the beginning, because I had never read a book from that sort of perspective, but I guess it got old or something. But apparently it's controversial and has a deep meaning. Anyone catch that new South Park? That pretty much sums it up for me. "Their Eyes Were Watching God" was just... boring. As was "Heart of Darkness." I don't mean to sound anti-literature or something, but I don't care how "deep" something can be if the surface is so plain that I don't want to wade in.

So, fellow Escapists/Escapees/However-we-refer-to-each-other, what do you think of this? Do you dig deep, or just care for the surface? Do you like to read for the story and its twists? Or do you prefer analyzing something to see what the author is trying to say about the world? A decent mix is always good, and is attainable, but if it had to lean more toward one than the other, what would you pick? Can you think of any examples for either?

 

[Dragon_of_red]

I just prefer to read a book, not search for its hidden meanings and other junk like that. It ruins the book, no matter how much you like the book, having to re-read it 100 times for a 1000 word essay will ruin it for you.

 

[delet]

I read to get an experience, but I find that whenever I'm forced to read these 'classics', I hate most of them because in the end, nothing ever happened. Brave New World; In the end, nothing at all was changed and society went on as it was. Of Mice and Men; Lenny dies, George moved on and nothing else happened (And the whole book was written like a play...)

I want to feel like some slight progress was made during the book so the whole thing wasn't utterly pointless.

 

[WorldCritic]

I prefer to read for a story.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Well I tend to take most things said in English Literature with mounds of salt. The teacher is paid to teach the curriculum, which involves reading far too deeply into every little thing. I enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird (I read it before the classes done on it), and now I can't bring myself to read it again. I think Harper Lee suffered Creator Backlash [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CreatorBacklash] over it, so yeah.

And I like me some books with depth, but too much and it drowns you.

 

[Conman94]

I like to read to escape from this shithole when I don't feel like shooting things.

 

[Kortney]

The teacher is paid to teach the curriculum, which involves reading far too deeply into every little thing.

This. And it really, really annoys me. English lessons are ridiculous.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

I like to read because I enjoy it. Kind of hard to explain, really.

 

[MercenaryCanary]

I like to read simply because the stories are better.
I wonder why?! /sarcasm

 

[PixieFace]

"Catcher in the Rye" was controversial for that time period. To truly "appreciate" it you have to learn about what was on in the world when it was written. Today, it seems rather dry. That's pretty much how progress works, just like how seeing a lady showing a bit of her ankle a hundred years ago was scandalous and nowadays it's a bit prude. Catcher in the Rye is a bunch of a crap to me, though, so I could care less either way.

I actually don't like any of the titles you mentioned. I died a little bit inside anytime we had to read more serious business type books for class. Oh, good lord, especially Heart of Darkness. Hurrggh. I'm going to vomit at the memories. I think some of the only assigned readings I enjoyed were poems and short stories by Poe, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Of Mice And Men.

I enjoy depth and feelings in storytelling. Problem is, I don't like the writing in a lot of classical works. It's just flowery flim flam about nothing for me. What I appreciate is surrealism and simplicity, like in Neil Gaiman and Greg Bear's work. Does that make me a petty literary wannabe? Does that make my own writing an automatic ultra fail? Does it make any snobs scoff disapprovingly in my general direction? Well, if so, you can all suck an egg. I know what I like, and what I like doesn't have to drown itself in fluffy nonsensical twaddle to feel important.

I enjoy learning from oral traditional tales told by Africans and Native Americans, especially ones about Coyote and Anansi the spider. They're so strange and dream-like, and they tell these great little tight-knit stories, but they also have a bit of history and meaning behind them if you care to look. They're simple but they are also something more at the same time. It's a good example of what I like and what I try to emulate in my storytelling: Create something fascinating to stand on it's own, and weave depth within the work without shoving it in everyone's faces.

 

[FourEyedPandora]

Alright, let's face it, no one is interested in reading something that they just don't care about. Most people, if they read, would rather read fiction, which is why fiction authors are the most popular, like Stephen King and such. When they make students read something in school, it's to expand the student's mind to appropriate literature. Even as an English major, I don't know why some books are read, but I did enjoy more of them than other students did. Shakespeare is the main one read because of his influence on literature today. Also, the meanings of the books, like "Catcher in the Rye", can be perceived different ways, so it's just a trick to get you to pay attention.

 

[dfphetteplace]

So you just want to have everything be at face value and not think? There is a reason that John Stienbeck is considered to be so great. Aby_Z, maybe these books are trying to convey some form of hopelessness? They don't have happy endings, and there is a reason for that. Maybe it isn't the books that are boring, but something with the reader is.

 

[Romblen]

A care more about what's obvious, I don't try to find any symbolism in a book. I judge it by the story it tells, not by the symbolism. I suppose that's why I hated the Great Gatsby. I hate almost every classic book, the only exception being Fahrenheit 451.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

It really depends on the book, but I do enjoy reading. Right now, I'm reading "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by R. A. Heinlein. If it's something I'll enjoy, I enjoy it, but if it's something I really don't want to read (say, some piece of junk school mandated), I terrorize every detail, over-analyzing the hidden meanings of everything, just to make the teacher answer difficult questions.

 

[Marter]

I have only found a few books that I've read for the experience.

Most of the time if I'm reading, it's to gain knowledge.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

It's a form of escapism I go to when I don't wish to sit in front of a screen.

Which is more often then one would think.

 

[Andantil]

I may read for 3 reasons, depending on the book.

I read to learn, like when I read The Universal History of Numbers, or On Intelligence.

I read to entertain myself, for this I usually read sci-fi/fantasy novels.

I read for understanding of an idea or perspective, this is why I read philosophical works and books like 1984, Heart of Darkness, and Catcher in the Rye.

-edit
fixed a book name

 

[Plurralbles]

I find it pretentious to pretend there's deep meaning in a writing.


But I like to read.

 

[SimuLord]

I don't particularly care for "classic literature". Except Voltaire. That dude could flat-out write.

But as for why I read, for pleasure, for school, for something to do in an airport? Simple. It's so I never have to end up like this hot-but-brainless chick from my sociology class this semester who, upon hearing me mention Reconquista, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (no prizes for guessing what the discussion was about), says "how do you know so much stuff?"

Because I READ BOOKS, YOU IGNORANT SLUT.

 

[Blow_Pop]

I read to escape reality and people's stupidity